Stars And Numbers

Ancient civilization saw nothing absurd in the claims of astrology, no more than many an educated and
thoroughly scientific man sees in it today. Judicial astrology, by which the fate and acts of men and nations might be foreknown, [hardly
appeared, nor does it even now appear, any more unphilosophical or unscientific than does natural astrology or astronomy-by which the events of
so-called brute and inanimate nature (changes of weather, &c.), might be predicted. For it was not even prophetic insight that was claimed by
the votaries of that abstruse and really grand science, but simply a great proficiency in that method of procedure which allows the astrologer to
foresee certain events in the life of a man by the position of the planets at the time of his birth.

Once the probability, or even the simple possibility, of an occult influence exercised by the stars upon the
destiny of man admitted-and why should the fact appear more improbable in the case of stars and man than in
that of the sun-spots and potatoes?-and astrology becomes no less an exact science than astronomy. The earth, Prof. Balfour Stewart, F.R.S.,
tells us-"is very seriously affected by what takes place in the sun" . . . a connection "is strongly suspected between epidemics
and the appearance of the sun's surface."1

And if, as that man of science tells us, "a connection of some mysterious kind between the sun and the
earth is more than suspected" . . . and the problem is a most important one "to solve," how much more important the
solution of that other mystery-the undoubted affinity between man and the stars-an affinity believed in for countless ages and by the most
learned among men! Surely the destiny of man deserves as much consideration as that of a turnip or a potatoe . . . And if a disease of the latter
may be scientifically foretold whenever that vegetable crops out during a "sun-spot period," why should not a life of disease,
or health, of natural or violent death be as scientifically prognosticated by the position and appearance of the constellation with
which man is as directly connected and which bears the same relation to him as the sun bears to the earth?

In its days, astrology was greatly honoured, for when in able hands it was often shown to be as precise and
trustworthy in its predictions as astronomical predictions are in our own age. Omens were studied by all imperial Rome, as much, if not more than
they are now in India. Tiberius practised the science; and the Saracens in Spain held star-divination in the greatest reverence, astrology
passing into Western Europe through these, our first civilizers. Alphonso, the wise king of Castile and Leon, made himself famous in the
thirteenth century by his "Astrological Tables" (called Alphonsine); and his code of the Siata Purtidas; and the great
astronomer Kepler in the seventeenth, the discoverer of the three great laws of planetary motions (known as Kepler's laws) believed in and
proclaimed astrology a true science. Kepler, the Emperor Rudolph's mathematician, he to whom Newton is indebted for all his subsequent
discoveries, is the author of the "Principles of Astrology" in which he proves the power of certain harmonious configurations of
suitable planets to control human impulses. In his official capacity of Imperial astronomer, he is historically known to have
predicted to Wallenstein, from the position of the stars, the issue of the war in which that unfortunate general was then engaged. No less than
himself, his friend, protector and instructor, the great astronomer Tycho de Brahe, believed in, and expanded, the astrological system. He was
forced, moreover, to admit the influence of the constellations on terrestrial life and actions quite against his will or wish, and merely because
of the constant verification of facts.

Closely related to astrology is the Kabala and its system of numerals. The secret wisdom
of the ancient Chaldees left by them as an inheritance to the Jews relates primarily to the mythological science of the heavens and contains the
doctrines of the hidden or occult wisdom concerning the cycles of time. In the ancient philosophy, the sacredness of numbers began with the great
FIRST, the ONE, and ended with the naught or Zero, the symbol of the infinite and boundless circle, which represents the universe. All the
intervening figures, in whatever combination, or however multiplied, represent philosophical ideas relating either to a moral or a physical fact
in nature. They are the key to the archean views on cosmogony, in its broad sense, including man and beings, and relate to the human race and
individuals spiritually as well as physically. "The numerals of Pythagoras," says Porphyry, "were hieroglyphical symbols, by means
whereof he explained all ideas concerning the nature of all things " (De vitâ Pythag.). In the symbolical
kabala-the most ancient system left to us by the Chaldeans-the modes of examining letters, words and sentences for hidden meaning were
numerical. The gemantria (one of the three modes) is purely arithmetical and mathematical, and consists in applying to the letters of a
word the sense they bear as numbers-letters being used also for figures in the Hebrew as in Greek. Figurative Gemantria deduces
mysterious interpretations from the shapes of letters used in occult manuscripts and the Bible.

Thus, as shown by Cornelius Agrippa, in Numbers (X. 35), the letter Beth means the
reversal of enemies. The sacred anagrams known as Zeruph yield their mysterious sense by the second mode named Themura, and consists in
displacing the letters and substituting them one for another and then arranging them in rows according to their numerical value. If, of all
operations in the occult sciences there is not one that is not rooted in astrology, arithmetic and especially geometry are a part of the first
principles of magic. The most recondite mysteries and powers in nature are made to yield to the power of numbers. And let this not be regarded as
a fallacy. He who knows the relative and respective numbers or the so-called correspondence between causes and effects will alone be able to
obtain of a certainty the desired result. A small mistake, a trifling difference in an astronomical calculation and-no correct prediction of a
heavenly phenomenon becomes possible. As Severinus Boethius puts it, it is by the proportion of certain numbers that all things were formed.
"God geometrizes" saith Plato, meaning creative nature. If there are so many occult virtues in natural things, "what marvel if in
numbers which are pure and commixed only with ideas, there should be found virtues greater and more occult?" asks Agrippa. Even Time must
contain the mystery number; so also does motion, or action, and so, therefore, must all things that move, act, or are subjected to time. But
"the mystery is in the abstract power of number, in its rational and formal state, not in the expression of it by the voice, as among people
who buy and sell." (De Occulta Phil. cap. iii. p. cii.) The Pythagoreans claimed to discern many things in the numbers of names.
And if those who having understanding were invited to "compute the number and name of the beast" by the author of St. John's
Revelation it is because that author was a Kabalist.

The wiseacres of our generations raise daily the cry that science and metaphysics are irreconcilable; and
facts prove as daily that it is but one more fallacy among the many that are uttered. The reign of exact science is proclaimed on every
housetop, and Plato who is said to have trusted to his imagination is sneered at, while Aristotle's method built on pure reason is the one
accepted by Science. Why? Because "the philosophical method of Plato was the inverse of that of Aristotle." Its starting-point was
universals, the very existence of which is, "a matter of faith" says Dr. Draper, and from these it descended to particulars, or
details. Aristotle, on the contrary, "rose from particulars to universals, advancing to them by inductions" (Conflict between
Religion and Science). We humbly answer to this, that mathematics, the only exact and infallible science in the world of
sciences-proceeds from UNIVERSALS.

It is this year especially, the year 1881, which seems to defy and challenge sober, matter-of-fact science,
and by its extraordinary events above, as below, in heaven as upon earth, to invite criticism upon its strange
"coincidences." Its freaks in the domains of meteorology and geology were prognosticated by the astronomers, and these every one is
bound to respect. There is a certain triangle seen this year on the horizon formed of the most brilliant stars which was predicted by them, but
none the less left unexplained. It is a simple geometrical combination of heavenly bodies, they say. As to that triangle, formed of the three
large planets-Venus, Jupiter and Saturn-having aught to do with the destinies of either men or nations-why that is pure superstition. "The
mantle of the astrologers is burnt and the predictions of some of them, whenever verified, must be attributed to simple and blind
chance."

We are not so sure of that; and, if permitted, will further on tell why-meanwhile, we must remind the reader
of the fact that Venus, the most intensely brilliant of the three above-named planets, as was remarked in Europe and for all we know in India
also-suddenly parted company with its two companions and slowly moving onward, stopped above them, whence it goes on dazzling the inhabitants of
the earth with an almost preternatural brilliancy.

The conjunction of two planets happens but rarely; that of three is still more rare; while the
conjunction of four and five planets becomes an event. The latter phenomenon took place in historical times but once, 2449 years B. C., when it
was observed by the Chinese astronomers and has not recurred since then. That extraordinary meeting of five large planets forebode all kinds of
evils to the Celestial Empire and its peoples, and the panic then created by the predictions of the Chinese astrologers was not in vain. During
the following 500 years, a series of internal broils, revolutions, wars, and changes of dynasty marked the end of the golden age of national
felicity in the Empire founded by the great Fu-hi.

Another conjunction is known to have happened just before the beginning of the Christian era. In that year,
three large planets had approached so closely together as to be mistaken by many for one single star of an immense size. Biblical scholars were
more than once inclined to identify these "three in one" with the Trinity, and at the same [time with the "star of the wise men of
the East." But they saw themselves thwarted in such pious desires by their hereditary enemies-the irreverent men of science, who proved that
the astronomical conjunction took place a year before the period claimed for the alleged birth of Jesus. Whether the phenomenon forbode good or
evil is best answered by the subsequent history and development of Christianity, than which, no other religion cost so many human victims, shed
such torrents of blood, nor brought the greater portion of humanity to suffer from what is now termed the "blessings of Christianity and
civilization."

A third conjunction took place in 1563 A. D. It appeared near the great nebula in the constellation of
Cancer. There were three great planets and according to the astronomers of those days-the most nefarious: Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. The
constellation of Cancer has always had a bad reputation; that year the mere fact of its having in its neighborhood a triune conjunction of evil
stars, caused the astrologers to predict great and speedy disasters. These did come to pass. A terrible plague broke out and raged in all Europe,
carrying off thousands upon thousands of victims.

And now, in 1881, we have again a visit of three other "Wanderers." What do they forebode? Nothing
good; and it would seem, as if of the great evils they are likely to pour on the devoted heads of hapless
humanity, the fatal prelude is already being played. Let us enumerate and see how far we are from the truth. The nearly simultaneous and
certainly in some cases unexpected deaths of great and the most remarkable men of our age. In the region of politics, we find the Emperor of
Russia, Lord Beaconsfield, and Aga Khan;2 in that of literature, Carlyle and George Eliot; in the world of art,
Rubinstein, the greatest musical genius. In the domain of geology-earthquakes which have already destroyed the town of Casamiceiola on the Island
of Ischia, a village in California and the Island of Chio which was laid entirely waste by the terrible catastrophe-one, moreover, predicted for
that very day by the astrologer Raphael. In the domain of wars, the hitherto invincible Great Britain was worsted at the Cape by a handful of
Boers; Ireland is convulsed and threatens; a plague now rages in Mesopotamia; another war is preparing between Turkey and Greece; armies of
Socialists and red-handed Nihilists obscure the sun of the political horizon in Europe; and the latter thrown into a violent perturbation is
breathlessly awaiting the most unexpected events [in the future-defying the perspicacity of the most acute of her political men. In the religious
spheres the heavenly triangle pointed its double horn at the monastic congregations and-a general exodus of monks and nuns-headed by the
children of Loyola, followed in France. There is a revival of infidelity and mental rebellion, and with it a proportionate increase of missionary
labourers (not labour), who like the hordes of Attila destroy much and build but little. Shall we add to the list of signs of these nefasti
dies, the birth of the New Dispensation at Calcutta? The latter though having but a small and quite a local importance, shows yet a
direct bearing upon our subject, i.e., the astrological meaning of the planetary conjunction. Like Christianity with Jesus and his
Apostles the New Dispensation can henceforth boast of having had a forerunner in starry heaven-the present triune conjunction of
planets. It proves, moreover, our kabalistic theory of periodical cyclic recurrences of events. As the Roman sceptical world of 1881 years ago,
we are startled by a fresh revival of mendicant Ebionites, fasting Essenes and Apostles upon whom descend "cloven tongues like as of
fire," and of whom we cannot even say as of the Jerusalem twelve, "that these men are full of new wine," since their inspiration
is entirely due to water, we are told.

The year 1881, then, of which we have lived but one-third, promises, as predicted by astrologers and
astronomers, a long and gloomy list of disasters on land, as on the seas. We have shown elsewhere (Bombay Gazette, March 30, 1881) how
strange in every respect was the grouping of the figures of our present year, adding that another such combination will not happen in the
Christian chronology before the year 11811, just 9,930 years hence, when-there will be no more a "Christian" chronology we are afraid,
but something else. We said: "Our year 1881, offers that strange fact, that from whichever of four sides you look at its figures-from right
or left, from top or bottom, from the back, by holding the paper up to the light-or even upside down, you will always have before you
the same mysterious and kabalistic numbers of 1881. it is the correct number of the three figures which have most perplexed mystics for over
eighteen centuries. The year 1881, in short, is the number of the great Beast of the Revelation, the number 666 of St. John's
Apocalypsis-that Kabalistic Book par excellence. See for yourselves: 1+8+8 +1 make eighteen; eighteen divided thrice gives
three times six, or placed in a row, 666, "the number of man."

This number has been for centuries the puzzle of Christendom and was interpreted in a thousand different
ways. Newton himself worked for years over the problem, but, ignorant of the secret Kabala, failed. Before the Reformation it was generally
supposed in the Church to have reference to the coming Antichrist. Since then the Protestants began to apply it in that spirit of Christian
charity which so characterizes Calvinism to the Latin Popish Church, which they call the "Harlot," the "great Beast" and the
"scarlet woman," and forthwith the latter returned the compliment in the same brotherly and friendly spirit. The supposition that it
refers to the Roman nation-the Greek letters of the word Latinus as numerals, amounting to exactly 666-is absurd.

There are beliefs and traditions among the people which spring no one knows from whence and pass from one
generation to the other, as an oral prophecy, and an unavoidable fact to come. One of such traditions, a correspondent of the Moscow
Gazette happened to hear in 1874 from the mountaineers of the Tyrolian Alps, and subsequently from old people in Bohemia. "From the
first day of 1876," says that tradition, "a sad, heavy period will begin for the whole world and will last for seven consecutive
years. The most unfortunate and fatal year for all will be 1881. He who will survive it, has an iron head."

An interesting new combination, meanwhile, of the year 1881, in reference to the life of the murdered Czar,
may be found in the following dates, every one of which marks a more or less important period in his life. It proves at all events what important
. and mysterious a part, the figures 1 and 8 played in his life. 1 and 8 make 18; and the Emperor was born April 17 (1+7=8) in 1818. He died in
1881-the figures of the year of his birth and death being identical, and coinciding, moreover, with the date of his birth 17=1+7=8. The figures
of the years of the birth and death being thus the same, as four times 18 can be formed out of them, and the sum-total of each year's numerals is
18. The arrival at Petersburg of the late Empress-the Czar's bride-took place on September 8; their marriage April 16-(8+8=16); their eldest
daughter, the Grand Duchess Alexandra, was born August 18; the late Czarevitch Nicolas Alexandrovitch, on September the 8, 1843; (1+8+4+3=16,
i.e., twice 8). The present Czar, Alexander III, was born February 26, (2+6=8); the proclamation of the ascension to the throne of the
late Emperor was signed February 18; the public proclamation about the Coronation day took place April 17 (l+7=8). His entrance into Moscow for
the coronation was on August 17 (1+7=8); the Coronation itself being performed August 26 (2+6=8); the year of the liberation of the Serfs, 1861,
whose numerals sum up 16-i.e., twice 8!

To conclude, we may mention here a far more curious discovery made in relation, and as a supplement, to the
above calculation, by a Jewish Rabbi in Russia-a Kabalist, evidently, from the use he makes of the Gemantria reckoning. It was just
published in a St. Petersburg paper. The Hebrew letters as stated have all their numerical value or correspondence in arithmetical figures. The
number 18 in the Hebrew Alphabet is represented by the letters-"HETH" = 8, and "JOD" = 10, i.e., 18. United together
Heth and Jod form the word "khaï," or "Hai," which literally translated means the imperative-live and
alive. Every orthodox Jew during his fast and holy days is bound to donate for some pious purpose a sum of money consisting of, and
containing the number 18 in it. So, for instance, he will give 18 copecks, or 18 ten copeck bits, 18 rubles or 18 times 18 copecks or
rubles-according to his means and degree of religious fervour. Hence, the year 1818-that of the Emperor's birth-meant, if read in
Hebrew-"khaï, khaï"-or live, live-pronounced emphatically twice; while the year 1881-that of his death read
in the same way, yields the fatal words "Khaï-tze" rendered in English, "thou living one depart"; or in other
words, "life is ended."

Of course, those sceptically inclined will remark that it is all due to blind chance and
"coincidence." Nor would we much insist upon the contrary, were such an observation to proceed but from uncompromising atheists, and
materialists, who, denying the above, remain only logical in their disbelief, and have as much right to their opinion as we have to our own. But
we cannot promise the same degree of indulgence whenever attacked by orthodox religionists. For, that class of persons while pooh-poohing
speculative metaphysics, and even astrology-a system based upon strictly mathematical calculations, pertaining as much to exact science as
biology or physiology, and open to experiment and verification-will, at the same time, firmly believe that potatoe disease, cholera, railway
accidents, earthquakes and the like are all of Divine origin and, proceeding directly of God, have a meaning and a bearing on human life
in its highest aspects. It is to the latter class of theists that we say: prove to us the existence of a personal God either outside or
inside physical nature, demonstrate him to us as the external agent, the Ruler of the Universe; show him concerned in human affairs and destiny
and exercising on them an influence, at least, as great and reasonably probable as that exercised by the sun-spots upon the destiny of vegetables
and then-laugh at us. Until then, and so long as no one is prepared with such a proof and solution, in the words of Tyndall-"Let us lower
our heads, and acknowledge our ignorance, priest and philosopher, one and all."

Theosophist, June, 1881
H. P. Blavatsky

1 One of the best known vegetable epidemics is that of the potatoe disease. The years 1846. 1860, and
1872 were bad years for the potatoe disease. and those years are not very far from the years of maximum sun-spots . . . there is a curious
connection between these diseases affecting plants and the state of the sun. . . . A disease that took place about three centuries since, of a
periodical and very violent character, called the "sweating sickness" . . . took place about the end of the fifteenth and the beginning
of the sixteenth century . . . and this is exactly the sun-spot period. . . . (The Sun and the Earth, Lecture by Prof. Balfour
Stewart)back to text

2 H. H. Aga Khan was one of the most remarkable men of the century. Of all
the Mussulmen, Shiahs or Soonis, who rejoice in the green turban, the Aga's claims to a direct descent from Mahomet through Ali rested on
undeniable proofs. He again represented the historical "Assassins" of the Old Man of the Mountain. He had married a daughter of the
late Shah of Persia; but political broils forced him to leave his native land and seek refuge with the British Government in India. In Bombay he
had a numerous religious following. He was a high-spirited, generous man and a hero. The most noticeable feature of his life was that he was born
in 1800-and died in 1881, at the age of 81. In his case too the occult influence of the year 1881 has asserted itself.back to text